Density indicating apparatus



Jan. 5, 3948. 3, ways I 2,434,098

DENSITY INDICATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J j? Urz for":

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6, 194., G. s. BAYS DENSITY INDICATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1942 .1. th t IH N I w w 5 t 5 unnecessary addition.

Patented Jan. 6, 1948 PATENT orrlca nnnsm mnrcs'rmo mnna'rus George S. Bays, Tulsa, lind Oil and Gas C corporation of Delaware kla., auignor to Stancompany, Tulsa, Okla a Application September 10, 1942, Serial No. 451,:25

9'Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for measuring density of fluids. More particularly it pertains to apparatus forcontinuously measuring density of flowing fluids such as drilling mud.

Density is on of the more important properties of drilling mud and should be carefully controlled; Ordinarily the density of a drilling mud is controlled by varying the proportion of solid to'liquid in the mud mixture. If it is desired to increase the density, solid material is added. However. when density' is too great in upper formations there can be serious loss of circulation and there can be excessive mud cake formed that can stick drill collars and can interfere with the running of the casing. The principal reason for increasing th density of a drilling mud is to prevent small but serious intrusions of gas, petroleum, or salt water or to protect against the possibility of a, blowout due to high pressure fluids or heaving formations encountered in the drilling. When the density is too great. dilution with water will usually accomplish the desired reduction in density. In any event control of mud density requires very close attention because of the irregularities in mud properties resulting from wall scrapings, addition of water without measurement, addition of weighting material at a varying rate, dilution or flocculation of the mud by brlnes, and many other causes.

In using heavy muds the possibility of losing the mud to the surrounding formations is always present. When the pressures which the forma- -tion will stand have been determined, care must b exercised not to exceed this pressure.

Often a variation of only 0.4 pound pergallon means the entrance of gas or salt water or the loss of mud returns. Under such conditions it is imperative that mud weight be known at all times.

The maior item in the cost of. drilling mud is the weighting, material used and because of this every precaution should betaken to minimize A more uniform mud can be obtained more economically when the weighting material is added only to those increments of the drilling mud which are too light. Only by automatic density measuring and recording means can a non-uniform drilling mud be made uniform by adding weighting material or'water to the light and heavy increments, respectively.

Thus by using automatic density, measuring and recording devices the operator can avoid unnecessary increas in the cost of ,drilling, resulting either from excessive use of weighting materials or from drilling difficulties which can be overcome by the use of a proper and uniform drilling mud. For example, during a shutdown period an intrusion of gas may occur and be presentfor only a short part of the circulating period. Conventional methods involving grab sampling, 1. e. th taking of random or intermitv tent samples, ordinarily will not detect the gas intrusion, butiit is detected and recorded by the continuous density measuring method and apparatus. Then suitable corrective measures can be taken.

It-is an object of my invention to provide a novel method and apparatus designed for the measurement of density of. a flowing fluid. It is a further object-to make a continuous measurement without impeding the flow of the material; Another object is to provide an apparatus for continuously measuring the densityof flowing fluid which is simple in construction and operation. A further object is to providean appa ratus for continuously indicating'the density of drilling mud which is both rugged for field work and sensitive enough to give an accurate indi-v cation of the condition of the drillingmud. These and other objects will become apparent as 25 th description of the invention proceeds.

Broadly, the apparatus comprises "a tank through which the material to be tested-flows.

On one side of the tank are two vertically spaced diaphragms which-actuate a pivoted operating" arm adapted to measure the pressure differential across the two diaphragms. This pressure dif-- ferential is translated into mechanical motion whichds indicated in terms of mud weight in pounds per gallon. a I

The following specification should b read in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view showin operating assembly partly in section; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus partly in section; .Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus partlyin section; 4

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4+4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-! of Figure 1; and

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional elevations of another embodiment of my apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, I havediagrammatically illustrated two embodiments of my invention in more or less detail. The -.apparatus comprises a tank ll having case front and case top H. The material to be tested enters the g details or the tank ill by inlet i3 and overflows through outlet i4 above the diaphragms. A wall or partition I! of tank in is provided with vertically spaced diaphragms l8 and i1, the diaphragms lo and I1 being held by diaphragm mounting plates I3 and diaphragm rings IS. The diaphragms i8 and i1 are held to diaphragm mounting plate l8 by means of machine screws 20, the entire diaphragm assembly being held by machine screws 2| to the partition l5. Diaphragm plates 22 are carried by adjustable elements 22a and th operating arm 23 which is mounted on arm shaft 24 midway between diaphragm plates 22. The arm shaft 24 terminates in bearings 25 which are adjustably held by bearing retainers 26 and is mounted in arm bearing'pillow block 21 which in turn is held to case front H by element 28.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 an upper end of operating arin 23 is fixed to one end of a spiral spring 30. The other end of spring 30 is flxed to stem 3| which is adjustably mounted on the side wall Ila. Knob 32 is provided for turning stem 3! to adjust the tension in' the spring 30 necessary to control the variations from a, predetermined standard density to which the device is sensitive. A pin 33 is rigidly fixed to operating arm 23 and passes through slot 34 provided in sidewall lib to permit lateral movement of the pin 33 in response to the deflection of operating arm 23. The outer end of pin 33 is pivotally attached to link 35 which is moveably fixed to quadrant gear 35. The teeth of the gear 35 ar meshed with those of pinion 31 on the shaft 38 carrying indicator 39, said shaft 38 being supported within case 40. When the operating arm 23 is deflected from its initial position by the distension of the diaphragms i6 and H the quadrant gear 36 rotates the indicator 39. The indicator 39 moves over the dial face 42 and a recording means can be provided, if desired, for operation in a manner well known in th art. The greater the change in distending forces due to change in mud density, the greater will be the deflection of the operating arm 23. Thus by the use of two diaphragms, as illustrated, the change in density can be used to produce a visual indication thereof.

During the operation of this device, the diaphragms i6 and i! are distended in amounts proportional to the hydrostatic heads of the columns of fluid within the tank above each diaphragm. Since the height a: the fluid between the respective diaphragms remains constant, the distension of these diaphragms varies directly with the weight of the fluid per unit volume, or with specific gravity. The distension of the diaphragms i6 and I1 results in deflection of operating arm 23 about arm shaft 24. This deflection is transmitted 'as described above to produce a visual indication in the change in density of the flowing fluid.

Referring to Figure l, a counterbalance spring 49 is fixed to case front Ii by flathead machine screw 50 and nut The free end of the counterbalancing spring 49 is attached to operating arm 23 at 52. An extension of the lower end of operating arm 23 carries auxiliary bleed valve adjusting screw- 53 which is brought up close to the auxiliary bleed valve 55 and the auxiliary orifice nozzle 54. Orifice header 56 communicates by means of flexible tubing 51 with bellows 58. On end of bellows 58 engages the operating arm 23. by means of bellows yoke-59 and Allen pivot screw 60. The other end is fastened .to case front II by bellows mounting 5|.

4 Bellows gasket 32 is provided between mounting 3| and bellows 58.

The initial adjustment of the testing equipment is made by placing th apparatus of Figure l 1 in the case illustrated in l lgurez, the case front ll being fixed with respect to the tank wall ii. The diaphragm plates 22 are adjusted by elements 22a to contact diaphragms i5 and I1 without deflecting the diaphragms and stop spacer 53 is adjusted to limit the movement of the operating arm 23. The auxiliary bleed valve 54 then is adjusted by means of adjusting screw 53 to give the desired initial air pressure reading. Fine balancing adjustments of operatingarm 23 are obtained through the use of counterbalance weights $4 and any tendency of the operating arm 23 to vibrate is controlled by a magnetic damper comprising magnets 55, magnet mounting 55 and magnet retainer 51. Damper vane 53 go is fixed to operating arm by nuts 59, and cooperates with the magnets 65 in reducing the tendency of operating arm 23 to vibrate.

In operation at any instant after the tank It! is full and overflowing, the diaphragms I6 and i! are distended by amounts proportional to the hydrostatic heads of the columns of fluid within the tank at vertically spaced points. Since the height of the fluid between the respective diaphragms remains constant, the deflection of these soidiaphragms varies directly with the weight of the fluid per unit volume, or with specific gravity. Any deflection of the diaphragms i8 and I1 results in a differential motion of operating arm 23 about arm shaft 24 and a corresponding move- 'ment of the auxiliary bleed valve adjusting screw 53. Since the lower diaphragm i1 will always be subjected to a greater distending force than diaphragm IS, the tendency will be for the element 53 to close the auxiliaryorifice nozzle 54. When an air supply under constant and sumcient pressure is supplied to orifice header 58, the bellows 58 will be extended until th operating arm 23 is moved back and the auxiliary orifice nozzle 54 is open to release the pressure sufliciently to attain a new equilibrium wherein the forces exerted by diaphragms i5 and i1 equal the counter force exerted by bellows 58. Consequently for every weight of fluid in tank Hi there will be a corresponding extension of bellows 58 and opening of orifice nozzle 54 with a resultant change in air pressure in air duct 10. When these air pressure changes are measured by a suitable and conventional pressure gauge 14 attached to the air duct 10, continuous visual indications of the specific gravity of the material flowing through the tank Ill 'will be obtained.

Figure 5 illustrates in greater detail the orifice header 56 of Figure l. The orifice header 5B is mounted upon case front I l by means of machine 0 screws 15 and is provided with fluid supply line 'H and fluid duct 10 leading to the means represented by gauge 14 responsive to the pressure exerted on said bellows. for producing a visual indication thereof. Between duct 10 and lin H within the orifice header 56 is choke I2. The choke or header orifice 12 functions to supply a constant volume of gas to the header which escapes through the bleed valve 54 or actuates the bellows 58. The volume introduced is maintained 7o constant regardless of small changes in back 15 plugs 13. The orific header 58 also communicates with bellows 58 by means of flexible tubing 51' as described above.

The apparatus which-I have disclosed herein ing fluid without an appreciable stretching or distension or the diaphragms. This is advantageous because the distension of the diaphragm is within the range wherein the deflection is a linear function of the force applied, thereby giving accurate and reproducible readings. The small deflection is made possible by providing the bellows arranged to oppose the deflectionof the diaphragm. The small deflections of the diaphragms are multiplied by the variable orifice apparatus into which air is introduced under constant pressure. For every weight of fluid column in the flow chamber, there is a corresponding deflection ofthe diaphragms, opening of the bleed valve, and change in air pressure. The apparatus is also adjustable for any initial measured changes in density are automatically density, for example, of drilling mud. Thus the compared with a fluid of known density. An- 7 other feature of the apparatus is the design of the diaphragms- The diaphragms are flat and are scoured by the flowing fluid thereby prevent ing accumulation of muds and the like upon the diaphragm faces. It is apparent that when such accumulation occurs accurate measurement of the variation in density is not possible.

It will be apparent from the above that I have attained the objects of my invention and have provided a ready method and apparatus for continuously indicating the density of flowing fluids,

such as drilling muds, without interrupting the stream flow.

While I hav illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention it should be understood that the invention is not limited'to 'any illustrated detail but only as defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. An apparatus for measuring density of flowing fluids comprising a, flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet at vertically spaced points, an upper and a lower pressure responsive means in the wall of saidfiow chamber at vertically spaced points between said inlet and outlet, op-

erating means xterior of said chamber extenda ing between said pressure responsive means, pivoted means for supporting said operating means at a point between said pressure responsive means, rigid adjustable means carried by said operating means adapted to contact said pressure'responsive means, said operating means being adapted to be deflected fromthe initially ad- Justed position a distance proportional to the differential of the pressure applied to said pres-- sure responsive means, and adjustable means tending to counterbalance th deviation of the tact said pressure responsive means and for initially balancing said operating means, said operating means being adapted to be deflected from the initially balanced position a distance proportional to the differential of the pressures applied to said pressure responsive means.

3. An apparatus for measuring density of flowing fluids comprising a flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, an upper and a lower pressure responsive means in a wall of said chamberand exposed to the fluids flowing between said inlet and outlet, pivoted operating means exterior of.

said chamber, pivot means for supporting said operating means between said upper and lower 7 pressure responsive means, adjustable rigid foilower means fixed to said operating means and .adaptedadiustabiy to contact said pressure re-' sponsive means, said operating means being adapted to be deflected from an initially balanced position a distance proportional to the differential of the movement of said pressure responsive means, and means arranged to oppose the deflection of said operating means.

. 4. An apparatus for measuring density of flowing fluids comprising a flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, an upper and a lower pres sure responsive means positioned in the wall of the flow chamber and exposed to the fluids flowing between said inlet and outlet, pivoted operating means exterior of said chamber, pivot means for supporting said operating means between said upper and lower pressure responsive means, adjustable rigid follower means fixed to said operating means and adapted adjustably to contact said pressure responsive means, said operating means being adapted to be deflected from an initially balanced position a distance proportional to the differential of the movement of said pressure responsive means, a fluid pressure means arranged to oppose the deflection of said operating means and means carried by said operat-- ing means for controlling the pressure exerted on said fluid pressure means. a

- inlet and outlet, pivoted operating means ex-,

pressure responsive means and said operating sure responsive means-forming a part of th wall of said chamber and exposed directly to the fluids within said flow chamber, pivoted operating means exterior of said chamber extending be-- tween said pressure responsive means and in operative relation thereto, means adjustably flxed to said pivoted operating means adapted to con- 5. -An apparatus for measuring density of flowing fluids comprising a flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, an upper and a lower pressure responsive means in a wall of said chamber and exposed to the fluids flowing between said terior of said chamber, pivot means for supporting said operating means between said upper and lower pressure responsive means, adjustable rigid follower means fixed to said operating means and adapted adjustably to contact said pressure responsive means, said operating means being adapted to be deflected from an initially balanced position a distance proportional to the differential of the movement of said pressure responsive means, and spring means arranged to oppose the deflection of said operating means and means responsive'to the deflection of the said operating means for producing a visual indication thereof.

6. An apparatus for measuring density of flowing fluids comprising vertically elongated flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, upper and lower diaphragms in a wall of said chamberand exposed to the fluids flowing between said inlet and outlet, a pivoted bar exterior of said chamber, pivot means for supporting said bar between said upper and lower diaphragms, adjustable rigid means carried by said bar adapted to contact said diaphragm's and to actuate .said bar in accordance with the relative position of said diaphragm, spring means arranged to oppose the deflection of said bar and means actuated by said bar for producing a visual indication of the demeans fixed to said bar and adapted adiustably to contact said diaphragms, said bar being adapted to be deflected from an initially balanced position a distance proportional to the differential of the movement of said diaphragms, a bellows arranged to oppose the deflection of said bar and means carried by said bar for controlling the pressure exerted on said bellows.

8. An apparatus for measuring density of flowing fluids comprising a flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet, upper and lower pressure responsive means arranged between said inlet and outlet in a wall of said chamber and exposed to the fluids within the flow chamber, pivoted bar means exterior of said chamber, pivot means for supporting said bar means between said upper and lower pressure responsive means, adjustable rigid follower means fixed to said bar means and adapted adjustably to contact said pressure responsive means, said bar means being adapted to be deflected from an initial balanced position, a fluid bellows arranged to oppose the deflection of the pivoted bar means and means carried by said pivoted bar means for controlling the pressure exerted on said bellows.

9. An apparatus for indicating density of fluids comprising a flow chamber having inlet and outlet means, upper and lower pressure responsive means arranged in a wail of said chamber and exposed to the fluids within said chamber, pivoted bar. means exterior of said chamber, pivot -means for supporting said bar means between said upper and lower pressure responsive means,

,adiustable rigid follower means fixed to said bar means and adapted adjustably to contact said pressure responsive means, said bar means being adapted to be deflected from an initially balanced position, restraining means arranged to oppose the deflection of said bar means, and indicating means responsive to a change in position of said bar means.

GEORGE S. BAYS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,115,520 Decker Apr. 26, 1938 1,319,241 Nassen Oct. 21, 1919 1,605,171 Chance Nov. 2, 1926 1,686,688 Fechheimer Oct. 9, 1928 1,838,399 Hodgson Dec. 29, 1931 2,023,568 Albersheim et a1. Dec. 10, 1935 2,056,187 Hay Oct. 6, 1936 2,223,712 Ziebolz Dec. 3, 1940 2,235,064 Cloud Mar. 18, 1941 1,822,458 Rowland et al Sept.'8, 1931 2,137,843 Jennings Nov. 22, 1938 1,621,535 Haultain Mar. 22, 1927 1,697,867 Haultain Jan. 8, 1929 2,248,322 Annin July 8, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 45,494 Austria, Jan. 10, 1911 421,668 Great Britain Dec. 28, 1934 

